c.1890 Haviland Limoges Pedestal Compote – Butterfly & Grasses – for James G. We

Fine late 19th-century Haviland & Co Limoges porcelain pedestal compote / cake stand, in a scarce celadon ground with butterflies and meadow grasses. Made in France for the American market and retailed by James G. Wells & Co, Hartford, Connecticut. Beautiful pale green ground with an iridescent lustre, scalloped rim and raised pedestal foot.

Underside with green H&Co Limoges factory mark and blue oval retailer mark “Haviland & Co / for / James G. Wells & Co / Hartford”. This combination of marks is typically dated to the late 1880s–1890s. Classic New England-retail Haviland, produced specifically for the U.S. market.

• Soft celadon / seafoam ground with subtle lustre

• Light, airy sprays of grasses and pink wildflowers

• Two butterflies in naturalistic colors, plus small sprigs continuing down the side and base

• Gently scalloped rim and elegant, flaring pedestal

Size

Approx. 9” diameter x 5” high

Condition

Antique condition consistent with a piece well over 130 years old.

• Light surface wear from use.

• One small chip to the outer rim (shown clearly in photos). The chip does not affect stability and displays very well when rotated to the back; the main display field and decoration are clean.

• No cracks, hairlines or visible repairs.

Priced with the rim chip in mind, but this remains a lovely and fairly hard-to-find example of Haviland’s butterfly decoration on a pedestal form with documented Hartford retailer provenance.

Ideal for serving cakes, petits fours or cheeses, or as a raised stand for candles, perfume bottles or small collectibles. Wonderful for Haviland and Limoges porcelain collectors, New England china collectors, or anyone building a romantic European-inspired tablescape.